Missile firing trainer device



Oct. 15, 1957 H. BECHER ETA]. 4 MISSILE'FIRINGTRAINER DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheetl v Filed July 26, 1954 IN VEN TORS.

'HAROLD B ER MARTIN P ER l6 7 ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1957 H. BECHER ETAL MISSILE FIRING TRAINER DEVICE I Filed July 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 m Q 2 %W\ u 5 8 V 8 U lb 1/ n fl W lwlm v w /m,6 A. 7 H 3 7 S M w m m 2 8 \8 B 5 8 I6 8 7 8 8 -7 Wm 0 m, vn a H A HAROLD BEOHER BY |:AR%T|- PEPPER 7 ATTORNEY 2,309,624 MISSILE FIRING TRAl NER DEVICE Harold Becher, Brooklyn, and Martin Pepper, Jamaica, N, Y assignors to Dellenbarger Machine Company, nc New York, N- Y, a co p rat onof w Y rk Application July 26, 1954, Serial No. 445,542

6 Claims. (Cl. 1 2.4..1 1)

This invention relates to a missile firing training device. Morespecifically, this invention relates'to an apparatus for practice firing from a mortar and the like, under conditions which simulate actual firing conditions except that costly operational explosive missiles and explosive propellants are not used.

An object of this invention is to provide the operational weapon with means to receive a dummy missile, preterably s'ubcaliber which actuates arnechanism that releases compressed air or gas above atmospheric pressure to propel the missile. t

Another object of our invention is to provide such a training device capable of firing missiles at short ranges with the same relative accuracy as the operational weapon.

Further advantages and details of our inventionwill be apparent from the following description and accompany.- ing drawing, wherein A Figure 1 is a perspective view of our subealiber mortar trainer device,

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the lower portion of the s ubealiber thrower barrel and fluidactuating elements connected thereto, a Figure 3 is an'enlarged broken vertical sectional View of the mortar barrel shown in Figure 1 showing the subcaiiber thrower barrel retained therein,

v Figure 4. is a vertical sectional View of a modified valve construction positioned atthe lower end of the subcaliber thrower barrel in inoperative firing position,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the valve shown in Figure 4 in operative firing position to eject a missile placed in the thrower barrel, and Figure 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, "of a miniature missile for use in our device containing a firing, mechanism to fire a spotting charge.

Referring to the drawin Figured illustrates a mortar thrower having an operational mortar barrel, 1 open atits. ripper end and closed at its lower end by closure 2 which is supported on adjustable tripod legs 12 and base 13 so that the mortar elevation angle may be suitably adjusted to range from 45 to 9-0". A subcaliber thrower barrel 1,0. is retained in the mortar barrel 1 by an adapter 2 retained'in the mouth of the barrel 1 by retaining rig S57 and 8. and a clamp 6, as shown in Figure 3; er adapter ring 5 and retaining rings 3- an d .4 i withinjthefharrei 1, as. shown in Figure 3,

position. The. lower end of the subaver ba el is eonnected to a conduit '14 nder suitable pressure. to the lower l) capta n a as valve and solenoidassembly eont al a he v of as to th ubcaliber barrel 1,0 which are show d in figure 2. The

tower and st subsali e seeds sw tsli .1 when dosed estu r es the, sa e noid and valve assembly for admitting gas under pressure the ba rel 1.0;- A housing 5 bar 1110 i presided w th United States Patent 2,809,624 Patented Oct. I5, 1957 2 to the bottom of the subcaliber barrel 10 which will eject a missile, shown in Figure 6, placed in the barrel as will be fully described hereinafter.

The switch 16 is retained at the bottom of the subcaliber barrel 10 by a retaining housing 17, as shown in Figure 2, through which electric leads 18 and 19 extend and pass through a hole 9a in the adapter 9. The leads 18 and 19 are connected to a suitable source. of electric current, such as a 110 volt power supply or a portable battery. A threaded plug 22 is retained at the bottom of the subcaliber barrel 10 for closing same. The plug 22 is provided with a vertical passageway 24 which communicates with the port 15 to permit gas from conduit 14 to be supplied to the bottom of subcaliber barrel iii. A gasket 20 is interposed between the plug 7 to valve under suitable pressure through conduit 3 A pressure regulator 3.4 connected to the gas cylinder controls the pressure of the gas supplied to conduit 33., Valve 30 is provided with a port 35 which is con: nected with conduit 14 for supplying gas under pressure from cylinder 32. Valve 30 is also provided with an exhaustport 3. connected to a conduit 37 provided with a valve 38. The rate of exhaust from conduit 37 can be controlled by suitably setting pet-cool; 33. The QlQS- i g; n pen g of P s 5 n 36 are cout olle 'by a solenoid 40 connected by electric leads 4i andil to the sa e current pp y as tsh 16- A ed 3.1a s sonnected to the solenoid plunger (it? which carries piston 31 for opening or closing ports 35 and 36. A'spring 45 is connected to: valve housing 30 and the movable solenoid plunger 46 which normally tends to position the sqlenoid piston 31 so as to close port 35 in IhQ P sition shown by the solid lines in Figure 2. against passage of gas therthrough supplied by conduit 33. At the'same time, port 36 will be inconirnunication with exhaust o d 37 o as to pe m expe led throu h ond i 14 to pass therethrough. Figure 6 illustrates a subcaliber missile designated generallyby numeral suitable for use with our apparatus which consists ,of a nose 51 made of a substantially heavy material, such as steel or brass, and provided with a transverse hole 52 for the escape of gases when ablank bullet 53 on ning t spo t n hares n e t d n a v ticalport 54 is tired. The nose is screwed into a body 55 made of a relatively lighter material, such as aluminum, magnesium or plastic, or the like, which is. provided with circumferential grooves 56 for oilering resistance to air when this missile is expelled and with a plurality of fins 57 on the tail which is stream-lined so as to give good ballistic characteristics and cause the missile to landon its nose after being expelled from the barrel. A striker 58 held ba y a pri 5% and a, r a n ri 62 is p a ed in the cavity 61 n th rward and O t is bsdy W n the nose Slh th a o nd i s nses the striker 58, by inertia, to move forward and the pin. portion 58a integral with the striker to hit the primer- .contai-ning end of the bullet 53 so as to detonate the plug 22, then through port 15, conduit 14 into valve 30 and out through exhaust port 36 to conduit 37 through which it escapes to the atmosphere. When the missile 60 contacts the plunger head 29 it will close the switch 16 which will then actuate the solenoid 40, thereby moving piston 31 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. In this position port 35 will be in communication with the gas pressure conduit and exhaust port 36 will be closed. Gas under pressure will then flow through conduit 14, through port 15 and passageway 24 to the bottom of the subcaliber barrel 10. The gas under pressure in the barrel 10 will eject the missile from the barrel. The switch will remain in closed position due to the gas pressure within the barrel 10 until the missile is ejected and leaves the barrel. The resulting drop of pressure in the barrel 10 will cause the switch to open. The solenoid plunger 46 will then be retracted by spring 45 so as to close port 35 and return the exhaust port 36 to open position ready to repeat the cycle.

Our missile firing trainer device can be readily adapted to standard equipment with the use of minimum of parts and labor. The operational mortar construction is operated by the learner in the same manner as under actual firing conditions except that the use of expensive missiles is avoided since the missile is fired by gas pressure. While we have shown a subcaliber barrel inserted into the barrel of the operational weapon, our invention is not limited to this construction since the barrel of the operational weapon can be used, if means are provided at the bottom thereof, for leading in air to expel a missile therefrom. Of course, in such a case a missile of equivalent internal diameter as that of the barrel of the operational weapon would have to be used. This might still be economical since an operational missile emptied of its explosive charge and lightened in weight can be used.

It is likewise possible to put the solenoid and valve inside the operational weapon barrel below and/ or attached to the subcaliber barrel 10. Such a construction is limited only by the available space inside the operational weapon barrel and by the fact that shortening the barrel 10 shortens the firing range.

Nor is our device limited to the use of a switch and solenoid to operate the valve. In lieu thereof a pilot valve operated by relatively low pressures and actuated by the plunger 29 can be used to actuate the valve 30 to release the necessary volume of air to expel the missile when it is caused to actuate the plunger 29.

A modified valve construction is illustrated in Figures '4 and which can be positioned at the bottom of the subcaliber barrel for actuation by a missile positioned within the barrel 10. The valve construction is housed in a cylindrical member 70 which is received at the lower end of the barrel 10. The member 70 is provided with an inlet port 82 suitably connected to a source of compressed air or other gas under pressure.

The valve is provided with a bore 70a which receives a plunger 71 having a cylindrical port-closing member 71a connected by a spindle 71c to a second cylindrical port-closing member 71b. The plunger 71 is normally urged by a spring 75 to the inoperative position shown in Figure 4 so that member 711) closes ports 84 and 76 which can be made to communicate with inlet port 82.

When a missile 60 is positioned in barrel 10 so as to slide down toward the lower end, the air entrapped in the barrel 10 will pass through channel 72 which communicates with channel 73 and capillary channel 74 and will escape from port 74a. When the missile 60 contacts plunger 71 the plunger will be moved to the operative position shown in Figure 5 so that valve member 71a closes channel 73 and opens channel 84 which is in communication through channel 83 with the high gas pressure inlet 82. The compressed gas will enter the bore 70a and then pass through channel 76 into a second bore 78 which houses a movable valve-closing piston member 79 connected by a spindle 79a to another valveclosing piston member 79!). A spring 8! normally tends to urge valve member 79 to the inoperative position shown in Figure 4. A sleeve insert 88 serves as a stop member for limiting the travel of member 79. -In this inoperative position piston member 7% closes channel so that gas under pressure cannot be supplied to channel 87. When channel 84 is opened, as previously described, as a result of the movement of plunger 71 to the position shown in Figure 5, the gas under pressure will enter bore 78 causing piston member 79 to move against the pressure of spring 80, as shown in Figure 5, thereby opening channel 85. The gas under pressure from inlet 82 will then enter bore 86, pass through channel '87 to the bottom of the barrel 10 and eject the missile 60. The channel 87 is of suitable size so as to supply an adequate gas blast to eject the missile.

As long as the missile remains in the barrel 10 the gas pressure within the barrel will keep the plunger in the open position shown in Figure 5, but as soon as the missile 60 leaves the barrel 10 the gas pressure in the barrel will drop causing the plunger 71 to be automatically moved to the closing position shown in Figure 4 by action of spring 75. Piston member 79 will then also move to its closing position by action of spring 8% as shown in Figure 4. This cycle is repeated each time a missile is p0- sitioned within the barrel 10 for firing same.

The principle of having a weaker source of power when released by a missile actuate a stronger power to expel the missile can find application in many other military weapon firing missiles, such as Howitzers, Hedgehogs, Bazook'as, Rockets and the like. Subcaliber barrels may be inserted into large missiles, and this principle used to expel smaller missiles therefrom when the large missile is lowered into the operational weapon or inserted in the breech of same. Operational weapons can be constructed using the same principle.

While we have described the method of keeping the air supply valve open by the pressure exerted upon the plunger by the air in the barrel during the expulsion of the missile, we are not limited thereto. Time delay switches or motor actuated time delay means of the nature well known in the art may be used for keeping the air supply line open for the interval required to expel the missile.

It is to be understood that numerous other changes and modifications may be made in our construction which are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1 A missile firing device of the class described comprising a barrel for receiving a missile, a valve assembly connected to the bottom of said barrel, said valve assembly being provided with a gas exhaust port and a gas supply port, a switch at the bottom of said barrel, said switch being adapted to be contacted and actuated by the missile positioned in said barrel to control said valve assembly, said exhaust port permitting air to escape from said barrel when the missile is placed therein, and said gas supply port permitting gas under pressure to be supplied to said barrel to eject said missile from the barrel.

2. A missile firing device of the class described comprising a barrel for receiving a missile from the open end thereof, the opposite end of the barrel being closed by a plug, said plug having a bore therein for receiving a slidable plunger, said plunger being adapted to be contacted and actuated by the missile received in the barrel, a switch positioned adjacent said plunger, said switch being actuated into closing position upon actuation of said slidable plunger, a port in said plug to permit escape of air from said barrel when a missile is received therein and to permit flow of gas under pressure to the barrel to eject the missile received therein, said switch being connected to a valve and solenoid assembly for controlling the supply of gas under pressure to the barrel when said switch is closed by movement of said plunger and being opened When the pressure in said barrel drops upon ejection' of the missile from said barrel whereby the supply of gas under pressure is cutofi to the barrel and the air in the barrel can escape through the said port in said plug.

3. A missile firing device of the class described comprising an operational weapon having a barrel, a subcaliber barrel inserted in said barrel for receiving a subcaliber missile, a valve assembly connected to the bottom of said subcaliber barrel, said valve assembly being provided with an exhaust port and a gas supply port connected to said subcaliber barrel, means to actuate said valve assembly, said means being contacted and actuated by the missile received in said subcaliber barrel, said exhaust port normally permitting air to escape from said subcaliber barrel when the missile is placed therein in firing position and said supply port supplying gas under pressure to the bottom of said subcaliber barrel to eject 1 the missile from the subcaliber barrel when said valve assembly is actuated.

4. A missile firing device of the class described comprising an operational weapon having a barrel, asubcaliber barrel inserted in said barrel for receiving a subcaliber missile, a valve assembly connected to the bottom of said subcaliber barrel, said valve assembly being provided with a gas exhaust port anda gas supply port, a switch at the bottom of said subcaliber barrel, said switch being adapted to be contacted and actuated by the missile positioned in said subcaliber barrel to controlsaid valve assembly, said exhaust port permitting air to escape from said subcaliber barrel when the missile is placed therein, and said gas supply port permitting gas under pressure to be supplied to said subcaliber barrel to eject said missile from the subcaliber barrel.

5. A missile firing device of the class described comprising an operational weapon having a barrel, a subcaliber barrel inserted in said barrel for receiving a subcaliber missile from the open end thereof, the opposite end of the subcaliber barrel being closed by a plug, said plug having a bore therein for receiving a slidable plunger, said plunger being adapted to be contacted and actuated by the missile received in the subcaliber barrel, a switch positioned adjacent said plunger, said switch being actuated into closing position upon actuation of said slidable plunger, a channel in said plug to permit escape of air from said'subcaliber barrel when a missile is received therein and to permit flow of gas under pressure to the subcaliber barrel to eject the missile received therein, said switch being connected to a valve and solenoid assembly for controlling the supply of gas under pressure to the subcaliber barrel when said switch is closed by movement of said plunger and being opened when the pressure in said barrel drops upon ejection of the missile from said subcaliber barrel whereby the supply of gas under pressure is cut off to the subcaliber barrel and the air in the subcaliber barrel can escape through the said port in said p 7 6. A missile firing device of the class described comprising a barrel for receiving a missile, a valve means connected to the bottom of said barrel, said valve means being provided with an exhaust port and a gas supply port connected to said barrel, valve actuating means to actuate said valve means, said actuating means being contacted and actuated by the missile received in said barrel, said-valve means permitting air to escape from said barrel'when the missile is placed therein in firing position, said valve means being actuated upon contact of said missile with said valve actuating means for supplying gas under pressure to the bottom of said barrel to eject the missile from the barrel and to prevent air to escape from the barrel through-said valve means;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 453,692 Eichbaum June 9, 1891 1,964,167 Needham June 26, 1934 2,342,684 Nelson Feb. 29, 1944 2,478,224 Armstrong Aug. 9, 1949 2,484,320 Stevens Oct. 11, 1949 2,537,358 Lincoln Jan. 9, 1951 2,581,758 Galliano et al. Jan.- 8, 1952 

